Forest Preserve Offers New Year’s Celebration, MLK Day Program, Bird Hikes…

Here are the Forest Preserve District of Will County programs for the weeks of January 8 and January 15. Online registration is available on the Event Calendar at ReconnectWithNature.org.

The Outdoors for Beginners, from 10-11:30 a.m., Saturday, January 13, Sugar Creek Administration Center, Joliet: If you’re intimidated by outdoor activities, this program is for you. Learn about what kind of recreation you might enjoy and take a short hike in the prairie. Free, ages 18 or older. Register by January 10.

Bonne Année – A New Year Celebration, from 2-3:30 p.m., Saturday, January 13, Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville: Ring in the New Year French-Canadian fur trader style with stories, games, a warm drink, a toasty fire, and a vintage French craft to take home. Free, ages six or older. Register by January 11.

Happy Mornings Yoga and Hike, from 9-10:30 a.m., Sunday, January 14, Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, Channahon: Yoga takes place in the Grand Hall and is followed by an outdoor hike. Bring a yoga mat, water, and warm layers for the hike. Free, ages 14 or older. Register by January 13.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service – Volunteer Morning, from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday, January 15, Theodore Marsh Preserve, Crest Hill: Make a difference in your community by signing up for the Forest Preserve District’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service volunteer morning. Activities include brush control. Space is limited, with registration required. To get started, complete a waiver online. For information, contact Emily Kenny at 815-722-7364 or volunteerservices@fpdwc.org. Ages 10 or older.

Taboos of the Trade, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 17, Isle a la Cache Museum: Bring your own beverages (wine or beer only) as adult-themed topics of the 18th-Century fur trade era are explored, including relationships, alcohol, and rowdy rendezvous. Free, ages 21 or older. Register by January 16.

Birds and Beans, from 8:30-9:30 a.m., Saturday, January 20, Isle a la Cache Museum: Chat with a naturalist about the birds seen at the feeders through the museum’s picture window and enjoy the company of others over muffins and hot coffee. Free, ages 16 or older. Register by January 18.

Winter Waterfowl Hike at Lake Renwick, from 10-11:30 a.m., Saturday, January 20, Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve, Plainfield: Join a naturalist trailside to watch winter waterfowl enjoying the chilly water. Free, ages 10 or older. Register by January 19.

“Birds in Art” – Crochet for Wildlife, from noon-2 p.m., Saturday, January 20, Plum Creek Nature Center, Crete Township: Get “hooked” helping wildlife with this beginner’s course on how to crochet small nests that are used in wildlife rehabilitation. Free, ages 16 or older. Register by January 19.

Winter Walkers – Lake Renwick, from 1-2:30 p.m., Saturday, January 20, Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve: Join a naturalist every Saturday in January and February at a different forest preserve. This week, discover winter wildlife at Lake Renwick on a two- to three-mile hike. Free, all ages. Register by January 19.

Wings on the Water at Four Rivers, from 10-11:30 a.m., Sunday, January 21, Four Rivers Environmental Education Center: Join a naturalist on the chill trails to uncover the special adaptations that allow waterfowl to make Four Rivers their winter home. Free, all ages. Register by January 20.